Golf putter with three prong shaft attachment

ABSTRACT

A golf putter having an elongated head with an upright striking face and with a sole plate extending rearwardly from the striking face forming a body portion which is substantially L-shaped in cross section. A handle supports the head by a plurality of prongs, one of which is located centrally of the length of the head, and additional prongs are located adjacent opposite end portions thereof. The shank of the handle extends in an oblique direction from the point of connection of the center prong with the head.

United States Patent Allen et al. 51 July 11, 1972 54 GOLF PUTTER WITHTHREE PRONG 2,478,468 8/1949 Drake ..273/80.2 SHAFT ATTACHMENT D209,30l1 1/1967 Comitz ..D34/5 687,539 11/1901 Palmer. 1 Inventors WilliamAllen; Michael Barber, both 0204,002 3/1966 Tanis ..D34/5 of Brunswick,Ga. [73] Assignee: Seaview Enterprises, Inc., Brunswick, Ga. h Pinkham3Assistant ExammerR1chard J. Apley [22] Flledi P 1970 A!torneyBurns,Doane, Benedict, Swecker & Mathis [21] Appl. No.: 32,887 ABSTRACT [52].U S Cl 273/80 2 273/80C A golf putter having an elongated head with anupright strik- I 5} I 53/62 ing face and with a sole plate extendingrearwardly from the I 58 Fie'ld 80 I 80 2 striking face forming a bodyportion which is substantially L- 1 8 16 b shaped in cross section. Ahandle supports the head by a plurality of prongs, one of which islocated centrally of the length I of the head, and additional prongs arelocated adjacent op- [56] Re erences Cited posite end portions thereof.The shank of the handle extends UNITED STATES PATENTS in an obliquedirection from the point of connection of the center ron with the head.D196,734 10/1963 Solheim ..273/l67 D p 8 1,250,296 12/1917 Fitzjohn eta1. ..273/80 C 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures GOLF PUTTER WITH THREE PRONGSHAFT ATTACHMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toimprovements in golf putters.

The game of golf is an ancient one and while many attempts have beenmade to improve the characteristics of golf clubs, particularly putters,these have lacked the fundamental basis for improvement. Balance isnecessary in all golf clubs, particularly putters, but accuracy isespecially important in putting. This invention is the first putter headto reduce the probability or possibility of human errOr in putting bytransferring the stroke to the toe of the putter head as well as thecenter or heel, thus clearly reducing the chances of the putter turningon the handle axis, and thus increasing accuracy.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of golfputters and to overcome the objections found heretofore with golf clubsof this type, especially objections to the natural turning of the putterin the hand, and dissipation of force and thus dissipation of accuracyif the golf ball is not struck at a specific spot on the putter face,that is, toward the toe or the heel of the putter face.

Another object of this putter head is to disseminate force in the putterhead through prongs equally throughout the face of the club, and todisallow natural physical reaction to the force of the blow that usuallyresults in the toe or heel of the putter head turning away from the balland losing any portion of a degree of accuracy.

A particular object of the invention is to provide for the delivery ofthe force of the putting stroke with more fidelity and less margin forerror than with putter heads heretofore provided.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of theinvention, by providing a putter head with an elongated striking facesupported on the handle through a plurality of prongs, one of which isconnected with the rear face of the head approximately midway of thelength thereof and preferably centrally with respect to the strikingface. Additional prongs connect the handle structure with opposite endportions of the head on the rear face thereof.

The handle extends upright from the point of connection with the prongsin an oblique direction, inclined toward one end of the head to achievethe proper striking force by the swinging action of the arms. It ispreferred that a sole plate extend underneath the inturned portions ofthe prongs, rearwardly from the striking face, thereby to protect theprongs. The sole plate cooperates to form a head substantially L- shapedin cross section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS This embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf head and supporting prongstherefor;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view and partial section on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section therethrough on the line 44 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The golf putter comprises a club head,generally indicated by the numeral 1, which is supported on the lowerend of a handle 2 for a striking motion along the ground while thehandle is held in the hands of the player. The handle 2 may be made ofany suitable material and of sufficient length to accommodate the playerfor whom it is designed.

The club head 1 is formed with an upright section, generally indicatedat 3, and which is of substantial length of the order of approximately 4inches, although the length thereof may be varied as desired. Theupright section 3 has a front striking face 4 throughout its length andheight.

The club head also includes a sole plate 5 which extends transverselyfrom the lower edge of the upright section 3, cooperating therewith toform a body portion which is substantially L-shaped in cross section.The upright section 3 forms a wall section on the upper edge of the soleplate 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the sole plate 5 and lower edge of theupright section 3 have a bottom surface which is substantially flatthroughout the major portion of the length and width thereof as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. These parts have the end portions thereof curvedlongitudinally on a very long are so as to provide a smoother sweepmotion in the use of the club head. These curved end portions areindicated generally at 6 in FIG. 3.

The handle 2 supports the club head 1 by a shank 7 which is connectedwith the handle at the upper end of the shank. The lower end of theshank 7 has secured thereto a sleeve-like spider 8 from which prongs 9and 10 extend. The prong 9 has an angular end portion 11 extending intoabutting relation with the rear face of the upright section of the headmidway of the length of this head and immediately above the sole plate5.

The prongs 10 extend in opposite directions from the center to pointsadjacent the outer ends of the head and have angular end portions 12turned forwardly into abutting relation with the rear face of theupright section 3 adjacent opposite ends thereof, symmetrically withrespect to the head. These sections 11 and 12 are normal to the strikingface 4 and are one piece, moulded with the handle and the rear face ofthe upright section 3 and with the top face of the sole plate 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shank 7 and the handle 2 extend in an obliquedirection, inclined toward one end portion of the club head from theaxis of the end portion 11 of the prong 9. The angle of inclinationshould be relatively small s0 as to accommodate freedom of swingingmotion of the arms while presenting the club head substantially parallelwith the ground surface in a smooth striking motion.

This golf putter, constructed as described and illustrated, is capableof delivering uniform force to a golf ball equally from one end to theother, or in the center. The head delivers the force of the puttingstroke with great fidelity and with less margin of error than putterheads heretofore provided because the force is absorbed and dissipatedequally to at least three areas of the putter face through the threeprongs that connect the head with the handle. Therefore, it is moredifficult with this putter to make a mistake in judging the stroke orfeel. Greater accuracy, therefore, will result in the use of the putterthan with putters provided heretofore.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in oneembodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be madetherein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

I. A golf putter comprising an elongated club head, said head having anupright striking face extending substantially throughout the length ofthe head, a handle structure including a shank above the head and havingat least three prongs joined to the shank at a position over the headand extending downwardly therefrom to the opposite side of the head fromthe striking face, said prongs having end portions joined to the headadjacent opposite ends of the head and intermediate said opposite endssymmetrically midway of the length thereof at points spaced aparttherealong.

2. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the handle structureextends obliquely from the head and inclined toward one end portion ofthe head.

3. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the head is substantiallyL-shaped in cross section with an upright section forming the uprightstriking face and with a sole plate extending lengthwise of the headbeneath the prongs, and with the prongs extending transversely acrossthe surface of the sOle plate to the back face of the upright section ofthe head.

4. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the head is substantiallybshaped in cross section with a sole plate extending lengthwise of thehead beneath the connected ends of the prongs, the sole plate having thebottom surface thereof flat throughout the major portion of the lengthof the intermediate portion thereof and having ends of the bottom facethereof curved on an are extending lengthwise of the head about a centerabove the head.

5. A golf putter comprising an elongated club head having a sole plateextending lengthwise thereof and with an upright wall section extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the sole plate and upstandingfrom the front edge thereof with a front striking face thereon, a handlestructure including a shank having a plurality of prongs with endportions extending downwardly therefrom to the upper surface of the soleplate at points spaced rearwardly from the upright wall section, each ofsaid prongs extending along the upper surface of the sole plate to theupright wall section in abutting relation with the latter, one of saidprongs having said end portion disposed midway of the length of the soleplate and wall section, and with end portionS of others of said prongsdisposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the end portion of said oneprong and adjacent opposite ends of the sole plate and wall section.

6. A golf putter according to claim 5, wherein each of the prongs hasthe portion thereof joined to the head extending substantially at rightangles to the striking face.

7. A golf putter according to claim 5 wherein the handle structureextends in an oblique direction from the head and is inclined toward oneend thereof.

1. A golf putter comprising an elongated club head, said head having anupright striking face extending substantially throughout the length ofthe head, a hanDle structure including a shank above the head and havingat least three prongs joined to the shank at a position over the headand extending downwardly therefrom to the opposite side of the head fromthe striking face, said prongs having end portions joined to the headadjacent opposite ends of the head and intermediate said opposite endssymmetrically midway of the length thereof at points spaced aparttherealong.
 2. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the handlestructure extends obliquely from the head and inclined toward one endportion of the head.
 3. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein thehead is substantially L-shaped in cross section with an upright sectionforming the upright striking face and with a sole plate extendinglengthwise of the head beneath the prongs, and with the prongs extendingtransversely across the surface of the sOle plate to the back face ofthe upright section of the head.
 4. A golf putter according to claim 1,wherein the head is substantially L-shaped in cross section with a soleplate extending lengthwise of the head beneath the connected ends of theprongs, the sole plate having the bottom surface thereof flat throughoutthe major portion of the length of the intermediate portion thereof andhaving ends of the bottom face thereof curved on an arc extendinglengthwise of the head about a center above the head.
 5. A golf puttercomprising an elongated club head having a sole plate extendinglengthwise thereof and with an upright wall section extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the sole plate and upstandingfrom the front edge thereof with a front striking face thereon, a handlestructure including a shank having a plurality of prongs with endportions extending downwardly therefrom to the upper surface of the soleplate at points spaced rearwardly from the upright wall section, each ofsaid prongs extending along the upper surface of the sole plate to theupright wall section in abutting relation with the latter, one of saidprongs having said end portion disposed midway of the length of the soleplate and wall section, and with end portionS of others of said prongsdisposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the end portion of said oneprong and adjacent opposite ends of the sole plate and wall section. 6.A golf putter according to claim 5, wherein each of the prongs has theportion thereof joined to the head extending substantially at rightangles to the striking face.
 7. A golf putter according to claim 5wherein the handle structure extends in an oblique direction from thehead and is inclined toward one end thereof.